This story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. Please consider supporting our local, independent newsroom by subscribing at butlereagle.com.

SUGARCREEK TWP, Armstrong County — The 2021 summer reunion was the last time Marc Fogel’s family saw him.

Since his detainment in Russia at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 and his subsequent sentence of 14 years in Russian prison in June, Marc’s mother, Malphine Fogel, of Butler, said the family has been trying to get his name out there.

“We’ve talked to any organization who would talk to us so people will know his name,” she said. “Aug. 14 will be a year since they picked him up at the airport.”

As family pictures were taken Saturday at Sugarcreek Community Park, Malphine and her siblings held signs saying “Release Marc Fogel.“

As they ate, family members signed a letter written to Antony Blinken, secretary of state, asking him to bring Marc home to them.

“Today the family of Marc Fogel met for our annual family reunion. We missed his presence so much. We urgently request your help in bringing him home from Russia to us,” the letter said.

A 1980 graduate of Butler Area High School and previous employee of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Marc entered the airport Aug. 14, 2021, to begin his final year as a teacher at the Anglo-American school in Moscow.

When 17 grams of marijuana, just over half an ounce, was found in his luggage, Marc was accused of smuggling.

His mother, sisters and cousins have only had contact with him through letters.

“We’ve never had a telephone conversation with him,” Malphine said. “We’ve been able to see a few handwritten notes.”

“It’s been a tough year for all of us. We get letters from him, they go through censors. I use Google Translate,” Marc’s sister Lisa Hyland said. “He has to get someone to read it to him in English, if he’s lucky.”

Family members said the family reunion is not the same without Marc.

“It’s not the same because he was the life of the party,” Malphine said. “He’s always been outgoing. Right now he’s probably concerned about his family. His wife Jane, his two sons. He’s probably upset he’s missed their anniversary.”

Hyland said the family has reached out to media sites nationwide and have been contacting politicians to bring Marc home on a prisoner exchange.

“The reason we’re trying to bring awareness is to get him listed as wrongfully detained. So when there’s a prisoners swap, we want him to be released along with Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, all three,” she said.

Americans Griner, 31, and Whelan, 52, are on the list for a potential prisoner exchange, according to Hyland. Griner, a WNBA player, has been detained since February when the Russians charged her with drug offenses, and Whelan, a corporate security director, was charged with spying in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison.

“No American should be left behind,” Hyland said.

When Marc was initially detained, Hyland said the family was advised by government officials to keep a low profile.

“They said to let it work through the system,” she said. “But it became clear (Marc) was being targeted because he’s an American.”

Malphine said her son, now 61, has had three major back surgeries and a hip replacement. He was prescribed medical marijuana for pain management.

“He was in a lot of pain and he didn’t complain,” she said.

“It’s not hyperbole to say that 14 years is a death sentence for my brother,” Hyland said. “There are murderers in Russia sentenced to 12 years, my brother was sentenced to 14.”

Malphine said they’ve sent letters to the U.S. Department of State, have had contact with multiple officials and started a change.org petition to make sure Marc isn’t left behind in the next exchange.

“I’m so afraid our government is not doing enough to push his name out there,” she said.

Malphine and Hyland said Marc was a world traveler, having taught in Malaysia, Venezuela, Colombia and other countries.

“When the Steelers won the Super Bowl, he got letters from 17 different countries, different people congratulating him since he was from Pittsburgh,” Malphine said.

“When he was detained, there were letters from people all over who were his students, saying what a positive impact he had on them,” Hyland said.

Kathy Andreassi, Marc’s cousin, said she last saw Marc five days before he left for Russia.

“He was the most outgoing, friendly person. He loved coming to this reunion, he just gloried in it,” she said. “I was a teacher too, so we always had discussions about education.”

When she heard Marc was detained in Russia, she was worried.

“I was sick. Honestly, since his birthday, which was this Thursday, I’ve been near tears multiple times thinking about being here without him. We always celebrate his birthday here with a cake,” she said.

She added that the family has no idea when the potential prisoner exchange could occur.

“I want Marc to be included,” she said.

Scott Andreassi, Marc’s cousin, said the last time he saw Marc was a year ago at the reunion.

“Marc and I are the same age. We grew up together, played basketball together,” he said. “It’s sad because Marc is such a bright light. Everyone enjoyed talking to him. And he was one year from retirement.”

Scott echoed the hopes of others, saying Marc should be labeled as wrongfully detained and released.

“What’s frustrating for me, as a former district attorney, is the crime he was charged with, in this country, it may warrant a fine,” he said. “I’ve asked the state department ‘Don’t forget about him.’ I would call on Rep. Mike Kelly, (Glenn) GT Thompson, to use their influence for this. They have access to ears we don’t.”

Malphine said that the family is doing all it can for Marc from so far away.

“If he’s not included in that prisoner exchange, I don’t know another opportunity that would come up to release him. It’s critical we get in contact with the secretary of state,” she said. “All we can do is pray. In the end, what else can you do?”

To sign the petition for Marc’s freedom, visit https://www.change.org/p/free-marc-fogel-from-wrongful-detainment-in-russia.

This story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. Please consider supporting our local, independent newsroom by subscribing at butlereagle.com.